Herceptin Price Drop Is ‘Pretty Promising,’ But May Not Be Replicable for All Biologics

The introduction of five Herceptin (trastuzumab) biosimilars contributed to a 21% decline in the cancer drug’s average sales price from the first quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2022, according to a study published this month in Health Affairs. Alice J. Chen, the study’s lead author, tells AIS Health that the adoption of Herceptin biosimilars and subsequent price decrease of the biologic is “a pretty promising case” at a time when biosimilars’ cost-saving potential is generating considerable interest.  

However, Chen says the uptake of other drugs’ biosimilars has varied, leading to more modest price declines and questions about how much the health care industry will save as a flood of biosimilars becomes available in the U.S. in the coming years.